I have issues with Curious George

Oh, he’s cute and all. But did you ever read the very first book? George is kidnapped by that evil, nameless Man in the Yellow Hat, scooped right up out of his beautiful jungle, put in a sack, made to endure a terrifying ocean voyage, and then clapped in a zoo. Is that a slave parable if you ever heard one? Holy mighty!

I’d like to think that the Reys (despite the H.A. Rey credit on some books, the first 8 George books were all written and illustrated by Margret and Hans Rey) were hip to the pathos of George’s plight, given that they were Jews living in Europe during WWII. But the oddly cheerful way they illustrate George’s predicament doesn’t make it seem like they sympathize with the poor little monkey, trapped in a sack. Ha ha ha, he’s waving goodbye to his monkey mom and dad! He’ll never see them again! Isn’t this fun, kids?

Indeed, if the Reys did feel sorry for George, why did he immediately head back to his evil captor, the Man in the Yellow Hat, the second he was released from the zoo? It’s Stockholm Syndrome if I ever saw it. Speaking of Yellow Hat Man, where does he get all his money? Far as I can tell he has a part-time job at a museum (he does some animal poaching on the side), yet he has the funds to have a city apartment and a country home, a fancy yellow car, nice trips to Hawaii and the moon. Something about that guy I don’t trust.

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LOL I don’t know. I still kind of like the series. Funny how the movie portrayed the beginning quite a bit differently than the book.

Danny’s Momma

I vaguely remember watching the cartoons when I was a real real little girl, in the dark, very early in the morning before my mom would take me to my Grandma’s house so she could go to work. Other than that, I’ve honestly never been all that impressed. Danny loves him, he watches the cartoons (when he’s with his Nonna. I find it too boring now) and he has a few books (also from his Nonna). I guess I just don’t “get” it. I feel like, if the Man in the Yellow Hat really wanted George THAT bad, why doesn’t he keep an eye on him?? Jeeze. Lets just capture this poor monkey, rip him away from his family and ship him off thousands of miles from his home, to NOT hang out with him. What’s THAT all about?

Betsy

haha, too funny! I’ve always wondered about this mysterious “Man in the Yellow Hat” myself. Now I have to go back and read the first book, I’ve forgotten how it went.

i’m right there with you. i liked curious george just fine until the christmas before my daughter turned 3. we got her that very first book. i read through it and decided to PUT IT AWAY. that’s an awful story. these days, we don’t see the show, but my daughter still likes to play curious george games on pbskids.org…i’m okay with that because curious george is the lone star of that show…the man in the yellow hat isn’t in many of the games.

But he gave George his pipe and pajamas, his own bed to sleep in, a new bike…
He can’t be all that bad.
Do you think George was actually a kidnapped child disguised as a monkey? There was that time he told him to get a job…
Oh. Now I’m curious.

HappyHippie

My 3yo son always corrects the book when they call George a monkey. “No, CHIMP, mama!”

The man in the yellow hat is horribly negligent. The reason George gets into trouble is pure neglect.

And in those early books, there is always someone smoking a pipe or cigarette. Poor role models, all!

Still, I remember LOVING those books as a kid, and my kids clearly love them, sooooo….

Kip

You are so right! I find the first book more than a little sad.

MommaInVT

I feel the same way! I cringe sometimes when reading ot to our toddler…

Ryan

Oh my!! Let’s burn the books!! Are you all kidding me?! The book is fine. It is a classic. As far as the comment on “poor role models” due to the cigarett and pipe smoking, it isnt the book’s obligation to teach your children right from wrong. You are the parent. You teach them that what happens in books, and on television is not neceissarily the way “we behave”. Besides, these books were written long before the harmful effects of cigaretts were known. If this is why you dont like Curious George, then what is your take on Alice in Wonderland? The increduble use of elicit drugs all through out that one! Lets take anything that Edgar Allem Poe wrote! HMMMMM…. Use of drugs much?! I think so! How about all the opium? I believe that is what killed him? Get a grip!

lauren

I have always felt the same way.

Tiffaney

I’ve never liked Curious George. As a child I thought the books were boring and that George was bad, not curious. As an adult, I still feel that way, but my kids love that monkey.

sarah

I am also not a fan of the first book for the same reasons, but some of the others ones do teach some lessons about what could happen if you are “too curious.” I still remember the one from my childhood about the time he ate the puzzle piece and had to go to the hospital because it made him sick. I really like the PBS show though.

Alameda

My almost 3yo has recently become a fan of Curious George thans to PBS. We started checking out books from the Library and even bought a few. DS loves him so I do too!!

On the Man with the Yellow Hat – DH and I convese about him more than we should for a fictional character, mostly about his work ethic and where he gets his money!!

JoslynsMom

Remember Babar? The depiction of his mother being murdered by the poachers is a bit much for a small child. And of course it was in the first episode of the cartoon. J cried and refused to watch it ever again. I loved Curious George as a child but J has never really gotten into his books. She thinks he’s naughty! LOL! And The Man with the Yellow Hat…I have no answers only questions…

Kate

I think the first book speaks more to people’s attitudes towards animals than anything else. My 2 year old loves Curious George but we read the new stories way more often (thankfully since they are shorter) and she watches the cartoon. I like Curious George way better than reading Barbie stories so there’s that. I do wonder why TMINYH is surprised when George gets in to trouble after being left alone in every single story/episode.

Quinn’sMommy

I thought I was the only one who thought this! What a terrible story for a little child. I remember reading this story when I was young and I cried for little George being taken away from his parents. Not all kids are ready for those topics. The PBS series is fine though.

Charity

All I know is the Man with the Yellow hat gets to go into space (and George with him), so he must have a high paying job. I’m a fan of the original books and not-so-much on the new licensed books. They do not have the same mischievous spirit and the illustrations are missing something too. I particularly love the ABC book where George learns that “letters make words and words make stories”. HA Rey highlights the letter on each page. A Lean Lady Licking a Lillipop! This one really clicked with my daughter. And btw, thanks to the cartoon (which she loves) my daughter wants to know why we don’t have a compost pile!

Beth

The thing that annoys me is that he is NOT A MONKEY. Do you see a tail? Hello.

Otherwise, he’s an animal, not a person. Of course he bonded to the Man in the Yellow Hat. So does you dog or cat despited being ripped from their mommy during infancy by evil kidnappers (known affectionately as pet owners). Don’t over think kid books.

Jessica Keating

I have opted to avoid the books and stick with the bland PBS show. I remembered the books very well from my childhood. I loved them then, but somehow the idea of reading some of the content to my girls is off-putting. Dunno…I also discovered too late that the Dr. Seuss book “Horton Hatches an Egg” has some uncomfortable content “three hunters came sneaking up softly behind” & “three rifles were aiming right straight at his heart” brought about a conversation that I didn’t really want to have with a 2.5 year old. I loved those books as a little kid too, but somehow that part escaped my memory.

Ryan

To add to my post after reading all of the other posts. I think you guys are wanting to take our children’s imagination away from them. Its a monkey for crying out loud! He’s going to get into trouble. The lesson you teach your children while reading this is, ” See what happens when you are too curious?” Im so tired of everyone always thinking they need to be “Politicaly Correct”. They are childrens books!! So now that all the “PC” people have have taken God out of our schools, and are wanting it taken off our money, which you obviously have no problem spending with or without HIS name, now you have problems with the most famous monkey there is!! I said it earlier, and I’ll say it again! Get a Grip!!

Michele

My 3 1/2 year old daughter loves Curious George on PBS and always wants to check the books out at the library. It might have something to do with the fact that she has been called monkey forever. LOL! I would much rather sit through Curious George than Sponge Bob Squarepants any day!

Karen

Ooook…. I thought the first Curious George book was a bit odd. It is definitely dated. Just like Babar. Not that I wouldn’t read them to my daughter – I have. But we don’t own them.

Granted, there are bits of Alice in Wonderland that are a bit disturbing as well, but they have nothing to do with drug use… Hmm…

I personally think that George is not supervised enough that’s why he ends up in so much trouble. George is a little monkey who is constantly left by himself, Also, the work load that George has, this is not normal at all. To me, personally, its considered animal/child abuse.

The man in the yellow hat does provide for little George but he is never around to supervise him. I guess that’s why he captured a monkey, he knew pretty well he is no darn good with kids.

Watching this show with your kids you have a lot of explaining to do .

Michelle

I think you all are reading a little too much into the story of Curious George. It’s a children’s book and that’s all! Plus, most kids love it! George is adorable and that’s what they respond to. End of story.

Brandi

Who cares? It’s a children’s story. Things only get complicated a blown out of proportion when adults, much like yourself, go crazy about dumb stuff. Get a hobby.